Bridgeport cops seize heroin, cash

Updated 10:40 pm, Thursday, December 27, 2012

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The city s Tactical Narcotics Team seized nearly $48,000 worth of heroin and $25,000 in cash Wednesday, police said. Irvin Villegas, a barber shop owner who police believe was selling large quantities of narcotics from his shop, was arrested along with two others. less

The city s Tactical Narcotics Team seized nearly $48,000 worth of heroin and $25,000 in cash Wednesday, police said. Irvin Villegas, a barber shop owner who police believe was selling large quantities of ... more

Photo: Connecticut Post

Image 2 of 2

The city s Tactical Narcotics Team seized nearly $48,000 worth of heroin and $25,000 in cash Wednesday, police said. Irvin Villegas, a barber shop owner who police believe was selling large quantities of narcotics from his shop, was arrested along with two others. less

The city s Tactical Narcotics Team seized nearly $48,000 worth of heroin and $25,000 in cash Wednesday, police said. Irvin Villegas, a barber shop owner who police believe was selling large quantities of ... more

Irvin Villegas, a barber shop owner who police believe was selling large quantities of narcotics from his shop, was arrested with two others.

For the last several months, TNT officers had received information that Villegas, the owner of Looking Image barber shop, was selling from his East Main Street business and his Linen Street home.

Investigators also determined Villegas was a felon with robbery and weapons convictions.

On Wednesday, just after 4 p.m., investigators pulled him over, triggering a series of events that led to the large seizure.

When they stopped his 2005 Infiniti sport-utility vehicle, police saw Villegas, 35, put an object in his center console and slam it shut. Concerned that it could be a weapon, police removed Villegas and his two passengers from the car. From the console, police recovered 150 glassine folds of heroin, reports said.

Police then contacted the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, after which the investigation led them to Villegas' house. There, police seized 226 bundles of heroin, each containing 10 glassine folds; cocaine; $25,000; drug paraphernalia; and bank records. A glassine fold of heroin can bring up to $20 on the street.

Villegas and his passengers, Bengy Pagan, 32, and Karisma Dejesus, 35, all were charged with possession of narcotics with intent to sell and possession with intent to sell within 1,500 feet of a school.

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According to Police Chief Joseph Gaudett Jr., the large seizure was the culmination of months of work and intelligence gathering by narcotics officers.

"He was a big-time dealer in the area," said Capt. A.J. Perez, the head of the narcotics and vice unit.